Cycling in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung - After breakfast, we took the free bicycles provided by our hotel to cycle along the Love River.

We pass by Sanfong Jhong Street, a very popular shopping area for sundry goods and tit-bits.

Cycking along the Love River.  The Love River runs through the city and is now a major recreation site.  The 16.4km river is lined on either side by well-kept parks and gardens that make romatic walkways of the riverbanks.  

Land and water vehicle

The Soaring Dragon Fish Statue

Love Pier situated at the junction of the river and harbour, makes use of the integrated design of flowers and large sailboats to match with the Hebin Park.  My kids then cycled all the way back to the Hotel as we could rent it for only 3hrs.

In the evening, we went to Kaohsiung biggest mall - Dream Mall - we walked to the Taipei Railway station MRT (R11) and stop at R6, we took the free shuttle bus to Dream Mall.  We had our dinner there.   There is a huge Ferris Wheel on the roof-top.

Kindness hotel in kaoshiung

Kaohsiung - We took the High Speed Rail bound for Kaohsiung and had to take the MRT to our hotel.   

Kaohsiung is situated on the Southwestern coast of Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait to the west, and beyond the southern tip of the island.  It sits across vital sealanes connecting North-east Asia with the Indian Ocean, and offers outstanding commerical port facilities.  Proximity to the sea gives Kaohsiung a warm, sunny climate all-year round.   The 2nd largest city in Taiwan.

Our Hotel: Kindness Hotel Xiong Zhong -@ 44, Jianguo 3rd Road., Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City
The Kindness hotel is actually a chain of 13 hotels in Kaohsiung.

When we reached our hotel, we are surprised with the 5-star treatment from a 3-star hotel.   After a long trip, it was really good to have a homely feeling about a hotel and this is it.   We had a family room with 2 Queen size bed.  Our kids love this hotel as they had free flow of ice-cream, refreshments,  and internet access.   The staff made us feel so welcome that we extended one more night at this hotel.    They also had free use of the washing machine and dryer - which is really good as we had a pile of laundry to clean.

At night , we went to Kaohsiung famous night market - Liu He Night Market.

We sat down and had some fish noodles....

Fried Octopus

Chives pancake

Oyster Ball

Mullet Gizzard

Shop selling dogs

Chicken feet

Taiwanese famous saussages

Sunrise @ Alisan

Alisan - Woke up my family @ 3am to get us ready to board the sun rise mountain train bound for Jhushan station.   The temperature at the train station was 9c, and when we reach the train station, there were already hundreds of people in the queue waiting for the 4.40am train to tdepart.   It was so packed, that my family had to stand throughout the journey up to Jhushan station.   At 2,451m above sea level, this is the highest train station in Taiwan.

When we reach Jhushan station, the temperature dropped to 6c to view the sunrise.  Hundreds of people gathering at this summit to view the sunrise.    It was a disappointment as we could not see the sunrise because it was so cloudy.   I wanted to see Alisan having heard about this place since young and even know the music about the this place but the trip to Alisan was highly hyped and highly priced with mostly tourist roaming around the place.

 

Train leaving Jhushan station

No sunrise, we decided to walk down the hiking path back to the hotel - it took us 1hr but worth the effort as the cool mountain air was a good relief.

Walking down the mountain

After breakfast, we checked-out and get ready for the 2hrs bus downward ride back to Chiayi Railway station.  Take the HSR to Kaohsiung city.  This is Taiwan's 2nd largest city with an MRT network.

Alishan

Alishan - We bought the Alishan shuttle bus tickets yesterday for the 8:10am departure.  The famous Alishan mountain train ride was not operational because of landslide so we had to take the shuttle bus up to Alishan.The Alishan Shuttle bus terminal is near the Chiayi Railway station.

Alisan, in south-central Taiwan, is an area of outstanding natural beauty, covering a total of 1,400 hectares. 

The origin of Alishan - As legend goes about 250 years ago, there was a Chief of the Jou people who name was "Abali".  Abali not only was respected as a great hunter, but also very familiar with this mountain area.  With his guidance, many tribe people usually could enjoy abundant harvests during their hunting trips.  Because his people had great respect for Abali, they decided to call teh mountain region where they hunted "Alishan", Mount Ali.

Ticket booth to Alisan

Chiayi Train Station

There were no one on board the 8:10am Alisan shuttle except my family and it took 2.5hrs to reach Alisan bus stop at the height of 2,500m.  The ride was very shaky and at times very near the edge of the mountain.   When we reach the summit the temperature was 13C. 

We checked into our hotel - Dafeng Hotel which was very near the bus-stop and also 7-11 convenience store.    We had to walk down a flight of stairs to reach our Hotel and it was a struggle as we had luggage.   When we reach the Hotel, it had no lift too and we had to carry our luggage up to the 4th floor.   Panting and heaving we finally reach out room.  It was nicely decorated and clean, with 2 Queen size beds with electric heating beds.    This special room rate came with dinner and breakfast. 

This is the view from our hotel room.  

The first thing we did was visit the Alishan visitor centre to enquiry about the locations and hikes around the area.

The train station for sunrise mountrain train ride only starts selling tickets at 2pm.  We booked the 4.40am ticket - yes! the train up the moutain to Chushan station departs at 4:40am, the next train departs at 5:10am - only 2 rides per day.  

The stamp chop collected by Pax on his Alisan tour brochure.

After getting our tickets we went for a hike around the mountains.  Alishan offers many mountain trails.

Elder sister pond

We walked around 'round the Pond' trail.

Three brothers

Pedestrian suspension bridge

Brrr...having dinner

Chiayi city

Chiayi -  We walked to the end of  Zhongsan Road to Chiayi Park and it was in such a dilapidated state.    The fountain is dried up and paint peeeling off.  

As I walked around this city, the retail shops are so boring and no customers at all.   The public transportation system is also poor and very limited.   We stayed near the Railway station and had to pass by it quite often, there were so many taxi driver touts and kept pestering me to ride their taxi to Alisan or elsewhere.

I also notice that this city had the most Police stations.    We walked for about 30 minutes to Carrefour supermarket.  At night, next to the Carrefour supermarket; there is a night market called Carrefour Nightmarket.  We had dinner a Mogolian dinner.

This is the mogolian restaurant - with free flow of drinks, desert, soup and rice.

At the Carrefour night market, there are many games for Adults and children to play.

Try fishing a prawn...that's your dinner.

This is very popular game, air pistol to shoot ballons.

Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village & Ropeway

Sun Moon Lake - We woke up early for breakfast which was provided by the Hotel.  It was a simple fare of sandwiches, buns, tea and hot soya bean drink.   As we bought our ferry tickets the night before from the Hotel which is 50% cheaper @ NT150.   The 1st ferry departs at 9:10am for across the Sun Moon Lake to Ita Thao town.

That's us boarding our ferry to Ita Thao town.  This is also where we get the Ropeway to the Peak and the start of the Formosa Aboriginal Village. 

That's Ita Thao town in the horizon...we walk through the small township.

From the township, we will have to walk along the wooden broadwalk to the Ropeway (Cable car).

The scenary along the broadway is so beautiful.

Finally reached the Ropeway...and on board the cable car bound for the Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village and Aladdin Theme Park. It was a relaxing cable car ride with a spendid view of the Sun Moon Lake and the surrounding green mountain forest.    The cable car structure stretches 1.87 km on the southeast side of Sun Moon Lake and slowly ascends from Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.  Then it continues another 786 metres over the Buji mountain valley and connects to the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway station. 

View from the cable car.

My kids love the theme park...and went to every single activity they had but we had to get  back to the Ropeway because the last cable car down is about 4pm.   So, we took the cable car back to Ita Thao town and then the ferry back to Shueishe Pier.  Catch the Nantou bus to Taichung and then HSR train to Chiayi.  We have to travel long distances and hours to get from one place to another.